Mid Devon

Mid Devon's population expanded in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in work life, housing tenure and health.

The population reached nearly 78,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Mid Devon increased by 11%, from almost 69,800 to 77,800.

The addition of just under 8,000 people means this area's population was the third-fastest-growing in the South West and increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Mid Devon was home to, on average, 0.61 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Mid Devon

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Mid Devon increased by three years, from 41 to 44 years.

This remote area had a higher average age than the South West and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 3,200 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 1,000.

About 14% of people in Mid Devon are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South West and Mid Devon by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Mid Devon working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 17% to 13% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 2.0% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell faster here than the figure for the whole of the South West (from 13% in 2001 to 10% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Mid Devon decreased by 4.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Mid Devon, the South West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of employment

Mid Devon saw the South West's third-largest rise in the proportion of employed people.

In 2011, just over one in two (52%) people aged 16 to 74 in Mid Devon said they were employed, compared with 50% in 2001. The percentage that were unemployed increased from 2.3% to 2.7%.

Across the region, only Isles of Scilly (from 50% to 54%) and East Devon (from 45% to 49%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of employed people.

Because of its small size, comparisons to Isles of Scilly should be made with caution.

During this period, Mid Devon went from having the 21st-highest to the 15th-lowest percentage of employed people out of 309 English local authority areas.

The rate of employment was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Mid Devon

The percentage of Mid Devon residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.8% to 3.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.1%, while the percentage of Mid Devon residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South West (from 3.0% in 2001 to 3.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Mid Devon, but at a slower rate than across England.

In Mid Devon, the proportion of private renting increased from 11% in 2001 to 16% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion across England increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Across the South West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 11% to 17%.

The rate of social housing in Mid Devon fell from 14% to 13%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 71% to 69%.

Private renting in Mid Devon increased by 4.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Mid Devon, the South West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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